Headlight testing apparatus and method



E. D. WILKERSON HEADLIGHT TESTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Nov. 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 0Ot.' 23, 1956 INVENTOR Efl I Vz'ZZe r50 72 f I ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1956 INVENTOR I F s z t a ATTORNEYS Nov. 1, 1960 E. D. WILKERSON 2,958,134

HEADLIGHT TESTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS HEADLIGHT TESTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Edward D. Wilkerson, 280E. North'field Road, Livingston, NJ.

Filed Oct. 23, 1956, Ser. No. 617,780

15 Claims. (Cl. 33-46) This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus and method for testing automobile headlights to determine if headlight adjustment is required to properly aim the beams.

In my U.S. application Serial No. 604,131, filed August 15, 1956, a sighting device is employed and means are provided for mounting it on a headlight in parallel relation with the axis of the latter. A stand is employed and. a target is mounted on said stand. This stand has wheelabutting means to accurately relate it first with the front wheel and then with the rear Wheel at the side of the car at which a headlight is being tested. When the stand is placed against the front wheel, the sighting device is adjusted and set in a position at which the target center can be viewed through said sighting device. Then, the stand is moved to the rear wheel and by viewing the target through the sighting device, the amount of headlight adjustment required, if any, may be determined.

The present invention improves upon the disclosure of the prior application and makes it possible to eliminate the placing of a stand at any time against a front wheel of the car.

A sighting device is mounted as before upon a headlight to be tested and the setting of this sighting device is determined by a weighted pendulous line. The stand is provided with a second sighting device which is disposed parallel with the plane of the rear wheel by the mere placing of said stand against said rear Wheel. The stand mounts the second or rear sighting device at the same elevation as the front sighting devicemounted on the headlight.

The front sighting device is provided at its front end with a peep sight and at its rear end with a centrally marked lens. The reverse is true of the rear sighting device, that is, its rear end has a peep sight and its front end a centrally marked lens. Both central. marks of the lenses are preferably formed by the crossing point of a vertical and a horizontal hairline on the lens. The rear sighting device is provided with a forwardly facing target which is graduated both vertically and horizontally.

The technician assigned to test the headlights, accu rately mounts the front sighting device on the headlight at one side of the car and places the stand accurately against the rear wheel at the same side of the car. He then sights through the rear sighting device and laterally adjusts this sighting device positionally until the marked centers of the rear sighting device lens coincides with the central mark on the lens of the front sighting device. The technician then moves to the front of the car and sights rearwardly through the front sighting device. If the central lens mark of this front sighting device coincides with the central mark of the rear sighting device lens, he knows that the headlight is accurately aimed. However, if he can only view a graduation of the target, he is thus informed that adjustment is required and the extent of same. Proper adjustment may then be made, or if the test has been made at an inspection station only, it may be re- Patented Nov. 1, 1960 quired that adjustmentbe later made and the car returned for final test.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claim and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 of the accompanying vation showing the mounting means ing device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, as indicated by line 22 of Figure 1, showing the mounting means engaged with the rim of a sealed-beam headlight unit.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the front sighting device, on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a rear end view of the front sighting device as indicated by the arrow 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the stand uponwhich the target and the rear sighting devices are mounted.

Figure 6 is a front elevation as indicated by the arrow 6 of Figure 5.

' Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a front elevation similar to Figure 5 but showing the stand against the other rear wheel.

Figure 9 is an enlarged front end view of the rear sighting device, as indicated by the arrow 9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view on line 19-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a way in which the rear. sighting device may be reversibly mounted, if desired.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view on line 1212 of Figure 11.

Figures 13 and 14 are respectively a fragmentary side elevation and a fragmentary-top plan, in diagram, showing the apparatus in use.

References have been disclosed in the drawings and will be rather specifically described but attention is invited to the possibility of making variations.

A front horizontal tubular sighting device 15 (Figures 1 to4) is provided for mounting on a headlight. This sighting device has. a peep sight 16 at its front end and a lens 17 at its rear end. This lens is provided with vertical and horizontal hairlines 18, 19 which cross at the lens center.

The mounting means for the sighting device '15 is fully disclosed in the application-above referred to and therefore requires only brief explanation. A transversely split band 20 is provided to surround the rim R of a conventional sealed-beam headlight unit H. Arms 21 project forwardly from the band 20 and carry a front plate 22. A lateral arm-23 is frictionally pivoted at 24 to the plate 22 and rigidly carries the sighting device 15. The arms 21 have inner ends 25 to abut the rim R, accurately position the mounting means and dispose the sighting device 15 parallel with the axis of the headlight unit H. The arms 21 also have shoulders 26 to abut the usual conical lens projection of the unit H if the latter be of themore modern type. A manually operable slide 27, slidable' on links 28, is provided to contract the band 20 around the rim R.

A ring 29 has been added around the sighting device 15, and from this ring a suitable measuring line 30 hangs pendulously, the lower end of said line being provided with a small weight 31. The line 30 is of fixed length and by adjusting the arm 23 until the weight 31 just clears the floor, the sighting device 15 is set at a predetermined elevation.

A rear horizontal tubular sighting device'32 (Figures drawings is a front elefor the front sight- 5 to 12) is provided for parallel relation with a rear automobile wheel W and at the same elevation as the front sighting device 15. The rear sighting device 32 has a peep sight 33 at its rear end and a lens 34 at its front end, said lens having vertical and horizontal hairlines 35, 36 which cross at the lens center.

A preferably circular, forwardly facing target 37 surrounds the front portion of the sighting device 32 and is secured thereto, said target having vertically spaced graduations 38 and horizontally spaced graduations 39.

A floor stand 40 is provided to mount the sighting device 32 and its target 37, said floor stand having a wheelabutting base 41 and a standard 42 rising from said base. The sigh-ting device 32 is secured to the upper end of the standard 42 and is thereby supported at the same elevation as the front sighting device 15.

The base 41 includes a horizontal bar 43 having vertical elements 44 at its ends, said elements projecting equidistantly both upwardly and downwardly from the bar 43, for a purpose to appear. These elements are so spaced as to abut the outer side of the tire of a rear wheel W to dispose the sighting device 32 in a vertical plane parallel with the plane of said wheel.

A rigid arm 45 is secured to and projects horizontally outward from the bar 43, and the standard 42 is frictionally pivoted at 46 to said arm for slight pivotal adjustment with respect to the plane of the wheel W. The standard 42 projects downwardly at 47 from the arm 45 and coacts with the elements 44 in providing a three point support for the stand 40. When this stand is used at one side of a car (Figures 5 and 6), the projecting standard end 47 coacts with the ends 44a of the elements 44 in supporting the stand. When the stand is to be used at the other side of the car, the entire base 41 is swung to an inverted position (Figure 8). In this position, the standard end 47 coacts with the other ends 44b of the elements 44, in supporting the stand.

If desired, instead of inverting the stand base 41 as above explained, suitable provision 48 (Figures 11 and 12) may be made to permit the sighting device and target 37 to be reversed when the stand is turned 180 for use at the other side of the car.

In carrying out the improved method of headlight testing, with the aid of the disclosed apparatus (see Figures 13 and 14), the front sighting device is accurately mounted on the rim R the headlight unit H with said sigh-ting device disposed at the elevation dictated by the pendulous line 30. The stand 40 is accurately placed against the rear wheel W at the same side of the car as the headlight to be tested, and the rear sighting device 32 is then at the same elevation as the front sighting device 15. The technician then sights forwardly through the rear sighting device 32 (see line L of Figure 14) and laterally adjusts it positionally (by swinging standard 42 on friction pivot 46) until the crossed hairlines 35, 36 of said rear sighting device coincide with the corresponding lens lines 38, 39 of the front sighting device 15. The technician then walks to the front of the car and sights rearwardly through the front sighting devicelS. When so doing, if the crossed lens lines of the front sighting device 15 coincides withthe crossed lens lines of the rear sighting device 32, it is known that no headlight adjustment is required. However, if only one graduation or another of the target 37 is visible (see line L of Figure 14) it is known that re-aiming of the headlight is required and the direction in which adjustment is necessary is indicated. Adjustment can then be made until the two sets of crossed lens lines coincide when sighting through the front sighting device 15,v and it is then known that the headlight has been properly re-aimed.

After checking the headlight at one side of the car, the same procedure is followed for the other side.

The invention permits accurate headlight aiming whether the front wheels and the rear wheels be spaced the same distance apart, or different distances. It also permits aiming of headlights to direct their beams truly longitudinally of the road even if the front and rear ends of the car are out of alignment and the car travels somewhat obliquely of the road, as under these circumstances the direction of car travel is always parallel to the planes of the rear Wheels, and the invention tests with respect to these planes.

Obviously, the invention may be practiced in garages and the like in which both headlight inspection and adjustment are made, or in stations which inspect only, leaving to the car operator to have adjustment made and return for final inspection and approval.

From the foregoing it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for attaining the desired ends. Attention, however, is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

1. An automobile testing apparatus comprising a front sighting device having a peep sight at its front end and a centrally marked lens at its rear end, a rear sighting device having a peep sight at its rear end and a centrally marked lens at its front end, means for mounting said front sighting device on an automobile headlight and parallel with the axis thereof, and means for mounting said rear sighting device at the same elevation as said front sighting device and parallel with the plane of the rear Wheel at the same side of the car as the headlight, the centrally marked lens of the front sighting device constituting a target when sighting forwardly through said rear sighting device, the centrally marked lens of the rear sighting device constituting a target when sight ing rearwardly through said front sighting device.

2. A structurue as specified in claim 1: together with a forwardly facing target operatively associated with said rear sighting device and visible through said front sighting device if headlight adjustment be required, said target having vertically spaced and horizontally spaced graduations. i

3. In a headlight testing apparatus, a support having means for mounting it on a headlight to be tested, a lateral arm mounted on said support for pivotal adjustment vertically, a sighting device mounted on the outer end of said lateral arm in position for parallel relation with the headlight axis, and a weighted measuring line depending from said arm to aid in setting said sighting device at a predetermined elevation.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the sighting device comprises a horizontally disposed tube having a peep sight at its front end and a centrally marked lens at its rear end, and there being included a ring encircling and resting upon said tube and supporting the weighted measuring line. 7

5. In a headlight testing apparatus, a floor stand base including upright members having aligned surfaces adapted to engage the outer side of an automobile wheel and floor engageable ends, and a horizontal arm extending outwardly from said upright members, a standard, said standard having a floor engageable lower end, a swingable frictional connection between a lower portion of said standard and said arm for slight lateral adjustment of said standard in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said upright member surfaces, and testing means mounted on said standard at the level of an automobile headlight.

6. A structure as specified in claim 5, in which said testing means is a sighting device.

7. A structure as specified in claim 5, in which said testing means is a target marked for both horizontal and vertical sighting.

8. A structure as specified in claim 5, in which said testing means comprises a sighting device and a target mounted directly thereon and marked for both horizontal and vertical sighting.

9. A structure as specified in claim 5, in which said base is invertably connected with said standard to permit use of the stand against a wheel at either side of an automobile without thereby reversing said testing means.

10. In a headlight testing apparatus, a horizontal bar for disposition at the outer side of an automobile wheel, said bar having vertical tire-abutting elements at its ends, said elements projecting equidistantly above and below said bar, an arm projecting horizontally outward from said bar and rigidly secured thereto, a standard pivoted to the outer end of said arm for pivotal adjustment with respect to the plane of said automobile wheel, the lower end of said standrad projecting downwardly from said arm and coacting with said downwardly projecting ends of said tire abutting elements in supporting said bar and arm, and testing means mounted on said standard.

11. A method of testing an automobile headlight with the aid of a front sighting device and a rear sighting device, said front sighting device having a peep sight at its front end and a centrally marked lens at its rear end, said rear sighting device having a peep sight at its rear end and a centrally marked lens at its front end; said rear sighting device also having a forwardly facing vertically and horizontally graduated target; said method comprising the steps of mounting said front sighting device on the headlight parallel with the axis of the same, mounting said rear sighting device at the same elevation as said front sighting device and parallel with the plane of the rear wheel at the same side of the automobile as said headlight, sighting forwardly through and laterally adjusting said rear sighting device relative to the automobile until the marked lens center of said rear sighting device coincides with the marked lens center of the front sighting device, and rearwardly sighting through said front sighting device at said target to determine any required headlight adjustment.

12. A method of testing and adjusting an automobile headlight with the aid of a front sighting device and a rear sighting device, said front sighting device having a. peep sight at its front end and a centrally marked lens at its rear end, said rear sighting device having a deep sight at its rear end and a centrally marked lense at its front end; said method comprising the steps of mounting said front sighting device on the headlight parallel with the axis of the same, mounting said rear sighting device at the same elevation as said front sighting device and parallel with the plane of the rear wheel at the same side of the automobile as said headlight, sighting forwardly through and laterally adjusting said rear sighting device relative to the automobile until the marked lens center of said rear sighting device coincides with the marked lens center of the front sighting device, and adjusting the headlight until the marked lens center of the front sighting device coincides with the marked lens center of the rear sighting device when sighting rearwardly through said front sighting device.

13. In a headlight testing apparatus, a fioor stand to be supported directly on a floor and placeable at the outer side of either of the rear wheels of an automobile, a sighting device mounted on said stand in a horizontal position and at the height of a headlight of said automobile, said sighting device having a peep sight at its rear end and a centrally marked lens at its front end, said peep sight and said central lens marking being aligned along a horizontal axis, said sighting device also having a forwardly facing target marked for both horizontal and vertical sighting, said stand being provided with wheelabutting means forming a part of the stand support and effective to aid in so positioning said stand that said sighting device horizontal axis always will be parallel to the plane of said rear wheel, said wheel-abutting means having end support surfaces for directly engaging a floor.

14. In a headlight testing apparatus, a floor stand to be supported directly on a floor and placeable at the outer side of either of the rear wheels of an automobile, a sighting device mounted on said stand in a horizontal position at the height of a headlight of said automobile, said sighting device having a peep sight at its rear end and a centrally marked lens at its front end, said stand being provided with wheel-abutting means forming a part of the stand support and effective to aid in so positioning said stand that said sighting device horizontal axis always will be parallel to the plane of said rear wheel, said wheelabutting means having end support surfaces for directly engaging a floor.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the rear sighting device includes a supporting standard and a base supported directly on a floor, said base being invertably connected with the standard to permit use of the stand against a wheel at either side of an automobile without thereby reversing said sighting device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 880,387 Morrill Feb. 25, 1908 1,434,209 Hort Oct. 31, 1922 2,261,741 Mathieu Nov. 4, 1941 2,314,559 Schilling Mar. 23, 1943 2,342,828 Armitage et a1. Feb. 29, 1944 2,552,119 Rodeghiero May 8, 1951 2,689,403 Wilkerson Sept. 21, 1954 2,755,554 'MacMillan July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,003 Germany June 6, 1921 499,430 Belgium Mar. 16, 1951 

